Skip to main content

Discovering Würzburg

One of the most intriguing suggestions I received on my recent visit to Würzburg was to see the Alte Mainbrücke (Old Main Bridge) and stroll across this pedestrian stone bridge with a glass of wine. I learned soon enough that this was sound advice. The bridge is a gathering place for friends and drinking wine from grapes grown in the surrounding hills is a fitting introduction to the capital of the Franconian wine region.

The Alte Mainbrücke was rebuilt between 1473-1543. It has commanding views of Marienberg Fortress and the vineyards that surround the city. On the bridge are twelve statues of saints and emperors which were added in the 18th century.

The Alte Mainbrücke connects the old town with the fishing quarter across the Main River. The tower of the Rathskeller and the steeples of Würzburger Dom figure prominently in the Alstadt (Old Town).

Sunset reflections on the Main River with Marienberg Fortress on the hill above the vineyards.

It’s fascinating to watch how the lock works.

The gothic Marienkapelle (Church of St. Mary) and the baroque Falkenhaus (where tourist information office and municipal library are located) anchor Market Square which hosts a lively Christmas market in December and a wine festival in late spring.

The redesigned nave of St. Augustine Church in Würzburg is a reminder that the church is a community of equals. There are no special seats, not even for the priest. Amen.

It’s worth looking up and discovering the beautiful frescoes at Neumünster (New Münster Church) in the Alstadt.

Falling for Fall in the gardens of the Residenz Palace.

How to get there:
There are frequent connections throughout the day between Frankfurt am Main Hbf and Würzburg Hbf. The average travel time is 1:06. Check Deutsche Bahn for schedules and prices. www.bahn.com.

Where to stay:
Würzburger Hof
Barbarossaplatz 2
I had a very memorable experience at Würzburger Hof. Because there was so much to see in Würzburg, I requested for an extra night’s stay at the hotel. And since the single rooms were fully booked, I was upgraded to a suite with a balcony that has a view of the vineyards in the distance. The hotel staff was helpful and gave me suggestions on places to see and how to get there. The hotel is conveniently located between the train station and the old town. It’s an easy walk to most attractions from the hotel. There’s also a tram stop in front of the hotel.



*****

Images by TravelswithCharie2019

Popular posts from this blog

Brașov was once called Stalin City

White Tower Brașov is a city nestled in the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania. Remnants of its medieval fortifications and bastions are added attractions to this buzzing city. The White Tower along with the Black Tower are two of the remaining watchtowers still visible today. During the Communist period,  Brașov  was called Orasul Stalin or Stalin City after the Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin. Black Church This is such a storied Gothic church which was originally the Catholic Church of St. Mary before it was converted to a Lutheran Church. It was believed to have been affected by fire in 1689 which blackened its exterior walls and roof. But a new 21st century study reveals that this wasn’t the case at all. The only reason for its blackened state according to the study is environmental pollution caused by the industrialization of Brasov in the 19th century. The walls have since been cleaned but there are traces of black spots on the roof.  Republicii Street This long pede...

The Gold of Ancestors: Pre-Colonial Philippine Treasures

Openwork basket, Surigao, 10th-13th century What a wonderful surprise this exhibition is! These gold objects, about a thousand of them, add a rich layer to Philippine history. This collection which was found in various sites in the Philippines, date back to the 10th-13th centuries. It demonstrates the well developed culture of pre colonial Philippines which the Spaniard, Antonio Pigafetta, recorded in 1521 when Ferdinand Magellan landed in the islands. A thriving interchange between the Philippines and its Asian neighbors existed prior to the arrival of Magellan as attested by some of these gold accouterments which show for example, images from Hindu mythology. The motifs and curvilinear ornamentation of the openwork basket (shown above) intimate Chinese designs found in their ceramics and textiles.  Torso ornament, 10th-13th century Weighing four kilos of gold, this sash is worn across the chest similar to the  upavita (sacred thread)  style in Hindu culture. This sash w...

The Art of Carlos Botong Francisco - Progress of Medicine in the Philippines

Pre-colonial period Pag-unlad ng Panggagamot sa Pilipinas (The Progress of Medicine in the Philippines) is a group of four large-scale paintings depicting healing practices in the Philippines from pre-colonial times to the modern period. Carlos Botong Francisco was commissioned in 1953 by  Dr. Agerico Sison who was then the director of Philippine General Hospital (PGH) together with   Dr. Eduardo Quisumbing of the National Museum, Dr. Florentino Herrera, Jr. and Dr. Constantino Manahan. These oil on canvas paintings measure 2.92 meters in height and 2.76 meters in width (9.71 ft x 8.92 ft) and were displayed at the main entrance hall of PGH for over five decades. Owing to its location, the artworks were in a state of "severe deterioration" at the beginning of the 21st century from exposure to heat, humidity, dirt, dust, smoke, insect stains, grime, termites and an oxidized synthetic resin used in an earlier restoration. These canvases were restored three times, the last was...